Discovering STEM In Nature!

"<< Background >>Rapidly increasing world population, excessive industrialization, the increase in the use of pesticides and chemicals have revealed obvious environmental problems. It destroyed the natural structure of the areas where people live: polluted air, water and soil have reached such extent that it will adversely affect the life of all living things. We are faced with a big problem such as global warming. This is the common problem of the whole world. It should be ensured that future generations are brought up with good environmental education. STEM education argues that preschool children who learn by researching, solving problems and asking questions are born as researchers. A little act by people in different geographies and experiences could have a big impact. Game-based learning approaches that support learning by doing and experiencing through active participation are suitable ways for STEM practice in early childhood education. We sought to educate our students on climate change and environmental issues, observe the work of our partners from different countries, gain different experiences and relevant information. We aimed for teachers to share educational material, improve their English speaking skills and usage of technologies.<< Objectives >>We wanted to:1. Develop children's understanding of natural phenomena and their sensory skills by applying the elements of the STEM method in order to help students develop their key skills such as problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, initiative and communication;2. Raise awareness of sustainability. Show and help to realize that we can use our natural resources such as water, forests, mines and oil for a longer period of time by recycling. By recycling waste, we can obtain new products without depleting our natural resources;3. Raise awareness about the ecosystem and renewable resources in order to create a greener world, clean environment. Solve problems and take responsibility for using water sparingly, understand the difference between garbage and recycling, understand the expression ""being in danger of extinction"", understand the difference between the concepts of chemical and natural paint.<< Implementation >>""STEM of Recycling"": Intruduction to recycling; waste recycling according to the color of containers; paper recycling, painting on recycled paper; costumes from waste materials; drama ""Let's not upset our world""; animal shelters using recycled materials.https://www.steminnature.online/2022/08/25/the-first-meeting-of-project-partners-took-place-in-north-macedonia-on-16-20-may/""STEM of Plants"": introduction to herbs; ""Plant adorns us"" - painting with natural (self-made) dyes on linen cloth; linen bags for herbs; introduction to trees (bee-bots and QR codes); introduction to fruit, vegetable, berries; making fresh salad; ""From seed to plant""; poster ""Growth cycle of apple tree"".https://www.steminnature.online/2022/09/29/the-second-international-meeting-of-project-partners-took-place-in-lithuania-on-2022-09-05-2022-09-09/""STEM of Animals"": endangered animals - mountain gazelle; animal feeders; stag beetle nest; animal costume show; hama beads workshop.https://www.steminnature.online/2023/04/28/the-third-international-meeting-of-project-partners-took-place-in-turkiye-on-5-9-december/""STEM of Water"": water cycle; Water day; workshops.https://www.steminnature.online/2023/04/28/final-project-meeting-in-estonia-stem-of-water/<< Results >>Children developed problem solving, creativity, critical thinking, teamwork, initiative and communication. They gained knowledge about sustainability:-learned how to recycle waste, how to make paper out of old one https://www.steminnature.online/2022/06/16/recycling-4/ -with the help of parents created animal costumes using waste materials https://www.steminnature.online/2023/06/23/fashion-show/https://www.steminnature.online/2023/04/30/meeting-in-turkey/ Children understood that chemical dyes harm the environment and learned to create dyes from plants https://www.steminnature.online/2022/09/30/after-ltta-in-lithuania-a-joint-product-was-created-an-e-book-of-our-common-product-apple-tree-growth-cycle/ They learned about endangered species and how to protect them.Children heard the reasons why to conserve water and how to do it. Rainwater collector was created. Children learned how to measure it.In every mobility teachers prepared presentations and shared practices on the topics of meetings https://www.steminnature.online/ Teachers' English speaking skills improved through communication with project partners. They gained knowledge about new technologies used by other project partners and presented them to their colleages."